Faithfulness in a Truthless Age: A Call to Action
Summary
In today's discussion, we explored the challenges and opportunities of living as Christians in Canada, a nation increasingly characterized by a truthless age. The central theme was the need for churches to return to the basics of understanding and living out biblical truths. Despite the cultural pressures and the growing secularization, the call remains to be faithful to the gospel and to engage in the ordinary means of grace—preaching, prayer, and community worship.
The conversation highlighted the unique context of Canada, where the church is facing a shift from being socially accepted to being stigmatized. This change requires Christians to prepare for social suffering and to remain steadfast in their faith. The panelists emphasized the importance of preaching the whole counsel of God and not succumbing to cultural imbalances. They also discussed the need for love and genuine community within the church, which speaks volumes to those outside the faith.
In Quebec, where Protestant churches are small and conversions are rare, the focus is on faithfulness rather than fruitfulness. Pastors are encouraged to remain steadfast in their calling, trusting God with the results. The discussion also touched on the importance of making biblical resources available in French to support the growth of the church in Quebec and other French-speaking regions.
The panelists urged the next generation of pastors to embrace a holistic approach to ministry, one that goes beyond preaching to include personal discipleship and pastoral care. They stressed the need for prayer and the importance of communicating the gospel clearly in a culture that may not understand traditional Christian language.
Key Takeaways:
1. Return to Biblical Basics: The pressing need for Canadian churches is to commit to understanding and living out biblical truths. This involves worshiping as individuals and communities and sharing the gospel amidst cultural pressures. The focus should be on the basics of faith rather than complicating church life with unnecessary additions. [01:08]
2. Faithfulness Over Fruitfulness: In regions like Quebec, where conversions are rare, pastors are encouraged to focus on being faithful to their calling rather than being overly concerned with visible results. Trusting God with the outcome is crucial, as the true measure of success is faithfulness to the gospel. [03:52]
3. Prepare for Social Suffering: As the cultural tide turns against Christianity, believers must prepare for social stigma and suffering. This involves understanding the cost of discipleship and remaining steadfast in faith, even when it leads to social ostracism. [05:52]
4. Communicate Clearly and Lovingly: In a culture that may not understand traditional Christian language, it's vital to communicate the gospel clearly and lovingly. This requires patience and a willingness to engage with people where they are, using language they can understand. [32:28]
5. Holistic Pastoral Ministry: The church needs pastors who are not only preachers but also shepherds who care for their congregations. This involves personal discipleship and being present in the lives of church members, guiding them through life's challenges. [34:03]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:11] - Introduction to the Panel
[01:08] - The Pressing Need for Canadian Churches
[02:12] - Sticking to the Ordinary Means of Grace
[03:16] - Challenges in Quebec's Protestant Churches
[04:29] - Navigating Hate Speech Legislation
[05:08] - Social Stigma and Suffering for Faith
[06:35] - Addressing Biblical Literacy
[08:12] - Anger vs. Love in Cultural Engagement
[10:24] - American vs. Canadian Religious Contexts
[13:49] - Differences in National Christian Identity
[17:27] - Advice to Younger Ministers
[20:03] - The Importance of Preaching and Prayer
[24:25] - Speaking the Truth in Love
[29:41] - French Resources for the Church
[31:34] - Advice for the Next Generation of Pastors
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 2 Timothy 4:2 - "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction."
2. Matthew 5:10-12 - "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
3. Hebrews 10:24-25 - "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
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Observation Questions:
1. What are the "ordinary means of grace" mentioned in the sermon, and why are they considered essential for the church in Canada? [02:12]
2. How does the sermon describe the shift in social perception of the church in Canada, and what are the implications for Christians? [05:08]
3. What challenges do Protestant churches in Quebec face, according to the sermon, and how are pastors encouraged to respond? [03:16]
4. How does the sermon suggest Christians should communicate the gospel in a culture that may not understand traditional Christian language? [32:28]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that faithfulness is more important than fruitfulness, especially in regions like Quebec? How does this align with the biblical concept of trusting God with the results? [03:52]
2. How does the sermon interpret the concept of social suffering for Christians, and what biblical principles are suggested to prepare for it? [05:52]
3. What does the sermon imply about the role of love and community within the church, and how does this reflect the teachings of Hebrews 10:24-25? [02:39]
4. How does the sermon encourage pastors to adopt a holistic approach to ministry, and what biblical examples support this view? [34:03]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own church experience. How can you personally contribute to returning to the basics of understanding and living out biblical truths in your community? [01:08]
2. In what ways can you focus on being faithful in your calling, even when visible results are not apparent? How does this challenge your current perspective on success? [03:52]
3. Have you experienced social stigma or suffering because of your faith? How did you respond, and what might you do differently in the future to remain steadfast? [05:52]
4. Consider the language you use when sharing your faith. How can you ensure that your communication is clear and loving, especially to those unfamiliar with Christian terminology? [32:28]
5. How can you support your church leaders in adopting a holistic approach to ministry that includes personal discipleship and pastoral care? What specific actions can you take to assist them? [34:03]
6. Identify one area in your life where you can practice the ordinary means of grace more consistently. What steps will you take this week to incorporate this practice into your routine? [02:12]
7. Think of a person in your life who may not understand traditional Christian language. How can you engage them in a meaningful conversation about faith this week? [32:28]
Devotional
Day 1: Embrace Biblical Simplicity
In a world filled with distractions and complexities, the call for Canadian churches is to return to the foundational truths of the Bible. This involves a commitment to understanding and living out these truths both individually and as a community. The focus should be on the essentials of faith, such as worship, prayer, and the gospel, rather than complicating church life with unnecessary additions. By doing so, believers can navigate cultural pressures with clarity and purpose, ensuring that their faith remains rooted in the core teachings of Christianity. [01:08]
"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your spiritual life that has become overly complicated? How can you simplify it to focus more on the core truths of the gospel today?
Day 2: Prioritize Faithfulness Over Visible Results
In regions like Quebec, where conversions are rare, the emphasis is on faithfulness rather than fruitfulness. Pastors and believers are encouraged to remain steadfast in their calling, trusting God with the results. The true measure of success is not in visible outcomes but in being faithful to the gospel message. This perspective allows Christians to persevere in their mission, knowing that their efforts are valuable in God's eyes, regardless of immediate results. [03:52]
"Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful." (1 Corinthians 4:2, ESV)
Reflection: In what area of your life are you tempted to measure success by visible results? How can you shift your focus to faithfulness instead?
Day 3: Prepare for Cultural Challenges
As the cultural tide turns against Christianity, believers must be prepared for social stigma and suffering. This involves understanding the cost of discipleship and remaining steadfast in faith, even when it leads to social ostracism. By embracing this reality, Christians can find strength in their identity in Christ and be a witness to the world through their perseverance and love. [05:52]
"Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." (2 Timothy 3:12, ESV)
Reflection: How can you prepare your heart and mind to face social challenges for your faith? What practical steps can you take today to strengthen your resolve?
Day 4: Communicate the Gospel with Clarity and Love
In a culture that may not understand traditional Christian language, it is vital to communicate the gospel clearly and lovingly. This requires patience and a willingness to engage with people where they are, using language they can understand. By doing so, believers can effectively share the message of Christ in a way that resonates with those outside the faith, fostering understanding and connection. [32:28]
"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." (Colossians 4:6, ESV)
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who may not understand traditional Christian language. How can you share the gospel with them in a way that is clear and loving today?
Day 5: Embrace Holistic Pastoral Ministry
The church needs pastors who are not only preachers but also shepherds who care for their congregations. This involves personal discipleship and being present in the lives of church members, guiding them through life's challenges. By embracing a holistic approach to ministry, pastors can nurture a thriving community of believers who support and encourage one another in their faith journey. [34:03]
"Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly." (1 Peter 5:2, ESV)
Reflection: How can you support your church leaders in their pastoral ministry? What is one way you can contribute to the community life of your church this week?
Quotes
I think the most pressing need for the churches in Canada is just to commit ourselves to understanding what the Bible says and then doing it. I don't think the Christian life or church life is really as complicated as sometimes we make it out to be. [00:01:08]
We need to stick with the preaching of the word, stick with the Sola scriptura, preach the whole Christ - balanced Christ, be careful not to try and correct the imbalances of our culture with imbalanced preaching but preach the whole Christ, preach the whole counsel of God. [00:02:21]
One of the things we really need to remind pastors in Quebec is that they're called to be faithful in exactly what you guys said and not worry about the fruit but to leave that to God. [00:04:06]
We just need to realize that we will be called now to suffer for our faith and that suffering will first be social. It probably won't be for most people being threatened with jail time or fines or anything like that as much as just social stigma. [00:05:47]
We invite people to come and study the Bible with fellow Christians. We try to have, I know in our church in Southern California, we have an outreach Bible study particularly for women during the day, and it tries to approach the Bible with the assumption that the people there don't know anything about the Bible. [00:06:32]
We don't need to communicate anger; we need to communicate love and care. I'd be curious if that's true in Canada the way it is in the States. I think there's some that feel angry, but politeness is a real virtue in Canada. [00:08:11]
The only way out is to get back into that pulpit and to start to preach the Word of God and for the people of God to own the Word of God and to live it and bear witness. [00:20:14]
I think what the Church of Canada is lacking is men who will pastor, men who will truly pastor people. That involves preaching, but it also involves the old-fashioned ministry of being with people, getting into their lives, and discipling them through life's ups and downs. [00:34:03]
We need to remember that one of the most important aspects of understanding God's love is what the Bible refers to as his steadfast love that endures forever. [00:28:31]
We need to be people of prayer, and prayer brings us to her. It shows our dependency. The great challenge in our nation I find again and again, and it took me years to realize that when I say God, the person I'm trying to talk to, they might think four or they might think the universe. [00:31:34]
I think we're really needing young men whose heart is not just to preach but to care for people, to care for all of God's flock, and to take on that role very, very seriously of doing almost more of a parish model of ministry which is caring for the people, leading them through life. [00:34:03]
We need to be on our knees praying for that, so using the ordinary means, prayer, preaching, sticking with those things, but speaking clearly, being careful that people, when you use terms like God, Jesus, sin, they're not thinking in their mind what you're saying. [00:32:28]
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